Pika aya means tortoise in the Shivwits dialect of Southern Paiute.
Southern Paiute land in Washington County could hold some important information about Mojave Desert tortoises. To learn more, researchers are taking a holistic approach to studying this endangered animal.
The project is called Pika’aya Tooveep or “Tortoise Country” in Paiute. Part of the endeavor involves students and wildlife biologists surveying the Shivwits Band of Paiute Indians reservation for signs of tortoises, which isn’t usually allowed.
Ann McLuckie is a biologist with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. She said the land on either side of the reservation is an important recovery area for the tortoises. Surveying the animals on the reservation will help them understand how much movement there is between the two areas.
KUER
St. George has a new interim mayor. Michele Randall was appointed during a special City Council meeting Tuesday, and she will be the city’s first female mayor. This story and more in the Thursday morning news brief.
Thursday morning, January 21, 2021
State
2021 Legislative Session: Getting Involved Remotely
The Utah legislative session started this week, but because of the pandemic and security concerns, the Capitol building is closed to the public right now. Even after it opens, many will still choose to participate virtually. With online options, the public is able to track bills, listen to debates and give public comments. Read the full story.
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Jason Jones, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
ST. GEORGE Almost 53 acres of private property in southwestern Utah vital habitat for the Mojave desert tortoise were recently acquired through the combined efforts of several agencies and organizations.
The parcel is on the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve in Washington County. The Utah Department of Natural Resources, which administers the state’s Endangered Species Mitigation Fund, joined forces with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, the county and The Nature Conservancy to acquire the property, where some of the highest observed densities of desert tortoises in the reserve have been found.
ST. GEORGE An area in Washington County known for its higher density of the threatened Mojave Desert tortoises is expanding.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources announced Tuesday that about 23 acres of land were donated toward the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. In addition to the donation, the agency reports that another 30 acres were acquired through an Endangered Species Mitigation Fund, giving the reserve an additional 53 acres.
The new land additions were acquired through the help of the Utah Department of Natural Resources, Washington County, and The Nature Conservancy a national land conservation nonprofit. The private property acquired was one of the largest remaining private properties within the reserve, according to DWR biologist Ann McLuckie.